The battle to advance God’s Kingdom is being fought every day throughout the world. In parts of Central Asia, believing in Christ is dangerous … and Jerry*, an East-West national church planter, paid the ultimate price for spreading the gospel.
Experiencing the Cost of the Cross
His region has become known as one of the most unreached regions of Central Asia, but Jerry called it home. Desperate to reach those in the most spiritually dark area of his country, Jerry moved to a desert city in his region to share the love and forgiveness found only in Jesus Christ.
He boldly declared the gospel message despite persecution and oppression from his government, neighbors, and even his deeply-rooted Muslim family. Jerry, his wife, and their indigenous ministry partner, committed their lives to making disciples in this dark, desolate part of their country.
Just a few weeks ago, Jerry’s body was found in a nearby neighbor’s home. While the authorities have improperly classified his cause of death, his closest friends and immediate family know it was his faith that cost him his life.
“Jerry was passionate about being in this region and reaching these people with the gospel,” one of his friends wrote. “He was a very strong believer and was faithful to Jesus, his family, and his community.”
Jerry’s daring zeal to share the message of Jesus Christ ultimately led a group of Islamic leaders to attempt to stop the spread of the gospel in their region. Their efforts, however, were in vain as Jerry’s wife, Vera*, and other believers in the region persevere.
Vera is a strong believer who is determined to not let this tragedy assuage the movement of the gospel message throughout this hostile territory. Despite her husband being martyred, she chose to make the advancement of God’s Kingdom in this spiritually dark region her first priority. Instead of screaming for justice, her silence is issuing a call to all believers: keep fighting.
Will you join the believers in Central Asia in praying that “the blood of the martyrs [would become] the seed of the church (Tertullian)" in this spiritually dark region?